Encountering The Normy

Aquiver

/əˈkwɪvə/adj. quivering, trembling

The recording became succesful. Kuya Dan congratulated me, sabi niya give it a week then irirelease na nila yung final copy. Naka standby na rin yung marketing team. All I have to do is to sit back and watch their magic happen. 

Noong dalawa nalang kami ni Normy, we exchange looks and right there para kaming mga sabog na nagtatatalon at nagyakapan. I mean basically I made it. WE made it. If not for her I won't find the feeling to sing a song that has a heavy meaning behind it. 

"Tara celebrate tayo?" tanong ko sa kanya. Sasagot sana si Normy when out of nowhere somebody respond. 

"Tara san ba? Inom tayo" I saw an acquaintance. 

"Bill" tawag ko. He is one of the models I worked with last year kaso this one is a bad news. He is someone any budding artist should not be associated with. Kumbaga naglalakad na problema. 

"Sorry bro, I am talking to a friend" Pagpapaliwanag ko. I am lowkey telling him that 'I don't have any business with him'

Bill seems persistent though. Pinanlilisikan na siya ng mata ni Normy. Sumabay pa siya sakin pagbaba ng elevator going to the parking lot. Hindi ko pinapansin masyado. Ngiting aso yung gago. I am trying to play it cool. I look at my phone. 

Pagbukas na pagbukas ng pinto una kong humakbang. I was abit astounded when he stopped me by holding my wrist. Napatanggal tuloy ako ng earpods sa inis. 

"Anong problema mo pare?" tanong ko.

"Wala naman, I just want to hangout with you. Tara inom" I look down at him. Tumitindig yung mga balahibo ko because he is giving me suggestive look and touch. Pabalya kong tinanggal yung hawak niya. 

"Look bro. I am not in the mood to hangout with anyone so please, Ayoko ng gulo" I quickly turned kaso humarang na naman yung gago. Hinawakan na naman ako sa kamay. 

"Wag ka ng magpakipot. Alam ko sikreto mo Pangilinan. Bading ka diba. Paminta ang puta nagpapanggap na straight" 

"Anthony" I heard Normy's warning. I just realise kinwelyuhan ko na pala tong gago sa sobrang inis. 

"Hindi ko alam kung anong mapapala mo sa ginagawa mo but while I am being nice stay away from me and don't you ever slander me bro. Sasampahan kita ng kaso" Ibinagsak ko siya saka ko naglakad dire diretso papuntang kotse. 

Sa sobrang inis ko pinaharurot ko yung sasakyan. One of the dark side of showbiz. May mga tarantadong gagawa at gagawa ng ikasisira mo. 

I remained quiet the entire ride. I am so pissed off. I almost forgot Normy is with me until the green light lit and Normy touch my hand with hers.

"Nag iigting yung panga mo. Hingang malalim Anthony. Namumula na pati tenga mo sa sobrang galit." I acted as if I did not hear anything. She probably felt it that's why she remained holding my hand. The cold feeling coming from it somehow reaches my heart. 

Bago kami makarating sa subdivision, I stopped on an empty street. 

Gabi na kaya pulang ilaw na nagmumula na lang sa poste ng meralco ang present. I don't know what to do kaya hinampas ko yung manibela at saka sumigaw. I am literally quivering in anger. 

"Cunts!" I cry out of frustration without letting out a sound. 

Later that night, Normy hold me close until I fall asleep, even in my dreams just to make sure I won't have stupid nightmares because of my anxiety and fear.  

The next day, I woke up with my mum standing next to my bed with a furious face. Dahan dahan akong umupo mula sa pagkakahiga. That face. I already knew that. 

"Anthony, who are you with yesterday?"

"No one"

"Don't lie to me. Nasa front page ka ng mga dyaryo sa bangketa!" She throw the newspaper to me and then she showed me an enlarge picture on her ipad. 

"Sinabi ko na sa'yo mag ingat ka sa mga kilos mo. Look. Who's this Bill Ledesma? You have a picture. According to these trash articles may lovers quarrel daw kayo. Hindi ba sinabi ko sa'yo umiwas ka sa mga ganyan"

Napatayo ako at saka padabog na dumiretso ng banyo. Sumunod naman si mummy. She continued nagging despite the presence of the lock door that separates us. 

"Aba't may gana ka pa ngayong magmalaki? Dinadabugan mo ko? Tapatin mo nga ako Anthony bakla ka ba talaga?" Hindi ako sumasagot. Naghilamos lang ako. 

"Hindi mo sisirain yang salamin okay?" I look at Normy as she sits on the toilet bowl. "Of course I won't. You know the truth. I am glad you are there so at least I don't feel alone and I don't feel nobody will believe me." 

"Medyo eksaherada din yang nanay mo no?" 

"Always been. She's actually much better now" 

"Much better? So ano pala siya dati? Dragon?"

Binuksan ko ulit yung pinto saka hinarap si mummy. "Mum you should know better. I am not gay and even if I am, I don't deserve to be ridicule like this. In fact nobody deserves it. I am surprise you still believe this type of bullshit" 

Mum shut up for a bit. "Magsasampa tayo ng kaso. Kakasuhan natin lahat ng publication na naglabas nitong article na to. This is libel!" 

"Can't we just let them be?"

"May picture anak. With visuals they can create a lot of  accusations. Don't say a word, let me handle this" I look at mum and simply hug her. 

"Thanks mum. Thank you for believing in me" She only nod.

Noong umalis si mummy umupo sa kama si Normy " I stan the unbothered king" I smiled.

"Having someone believe you no matter what the world says makes a huge difference"

"Bigyan mo ng credits sarili mo kase grumaduate ka na sa pag aalala sa sasabihin ng ibang tao. I am proud of you. 

"Wow, I'm surprise hindi ka balahura magsalita ngayon" 

"E kung gahasain kaya kita right here, right now?" I always wonder where does Normy take the courage to speak like a 6 feet tall person. Noong lumapit naman ako to trap her by placing my hands on her side bigla namang parang nawalan ng dila. 

"H-hoy bakit nagiging daring ka na? kaya na ng buto mo h-ha?" I grinned. Apparently my Normy is all bark no bite these days. 

"Saka mo na ko gahasain pag magaling ka na at bumalik ka na sa sarili mong katawan. Ayoko ng ghost sex" 

"H-hoy! magmumog ka ng holy water manyak ka!"

"Wow coming from you" I turned around smirking. "Maliligo na ko, sama ka kung gusto mong magkaron ng preview"

"Leche! Pinalaki kitang palaban pero hindi ko sinabing dapat pati sa kama nanlalaban!"